A Kansas City wood-fired steak and seafood restaurant chain is planning a South Florida migration.
J.Gilbert’s is searching for sites and franchisees to introduce the brand to South Florida, a rebounding market with growth potential, said Warren Lane, director of franchising and development for J. Gilbert’s.
“We like the growth we are seeing,” Lane said. “Florida lagged behind the rest of country for a while after the recession, but it has picked up in the last few years. That’s an attractive quality.”
Exact opening dates for the upcoming restaurants were not available, Lane said, but the eateries would each employ about 70 part-time and full-time workers.
J. Gilbert’s, owned by Houlihan’s Restaurants Inc., has five corporate-owned restaurants across the nation: in Ohio, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Connecticut. The first one opened in Kansas City about 25 years ago, Lane said.
The J. Gilbert’s menu includes wood-fired steaks, seafood and more than 90 wines.
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